Filmmaker, National Artist Eddie Romero dies

(Updated 4:16 a.m., 29 May 2013) Prolific and award-winning filmmaker Eddie S. Romero, National Artist for Cinema and Broadcast Arts, died Tuesday, his family and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) said.

NCCA chairman Felipe de Leon informed the news media of Romero's passing through a text message. The NCCA is one of the government agencies that administers the National Artist awards.

In a phone interview with GMA News, April Pabon, NCCA coordinator for National Artists, said she was informed that Romero developed a blood clot on the left side of his brain. He had been suffering from prostate cancer.

Pabon also said Romero's family wished the wake for the National Artist to be at the Mount Carmel Shrine in New Manila, Quezon City. Romero was 88. He

is most famous for his epic films that tackled Philippine history, politics and culture, including:

Ganito Kami Noon…Paano Kayo Ngayon? Aguila Kamakalawa Banta ng Kahapon Noli Me Tangere On its website, the NCCA said Romero was "the ambitious yet practical artist, was not satisfied with dreaming up grand ideas. He found ways to produce these dreams into films."

The National Artist citation said Romero delivered those grand ideas "in an utterly simple style – minimalist, but never empty, always calculated, precise and functional, but never predictable."

Meanwhile, Malacañang mourned the passing of Romero, lauding him for his work that "spanned generations." In a statement, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Romero influenced numerous filmmakers, both here and abroad. "The Aquino administration condoles with the family, friends, colleagues, and numerous admirers of Mr. Romero," she said. — DVM/ELR/HS, GMA News